Tractor-plow



H. J. HEIDER.

TRACTOR PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED Jun/d9. 191a.

Paten Apr. 19, 1921 H. J. HEIDER.

TRACTOR PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1918.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. J. HEIDER.

TRACTOR FLOW.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 29, 191s.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- Patented Apr. 19, 1921 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v HENRY J. HEIDER, OF CARROLL, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO BOOK ISLAND PLOWCOMPANY,

OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

moron-now.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed July '27, 1917, Serial No. 183,114. Dividedand this application filed July 29, i 1918. Serial No. 247,810.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY J. HEIDER,"3citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Carroll,Carroll county, Iowa,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tractor-Flows,of'which the following is a specification. V

My invention relates to an improved tractor plow, and my object is toprovide an improved structure of this character which will be simple,durable and reliable in construction, and effective and eflicient inoperation. 4

The present application is a division of my application Serial Number183,114, filed July 27, 1917, and the specific objects-of the inventionherein claimed relate to improved means for leveling the plows andregulating the working depth thereof. The specific features of'noveltywill be readily, under stood by reference to the accompanying drawingsin which I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, andhave illustrated the same in combination with the specific plow liftingmechanism by my parent application. Referring to the accompanying draw-1ngs:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of' a structure embodying myinvention, parts of the tractor being removed to better disclose theoperating parts.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. 85

stantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail, partly broken away, of the lifting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the footcontrolled latch.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, I illustrate the rear end of a tractor which may beregarded as rep- 46 resentativeof any suitable type of tractor for thepurposes of providing motive power and supporting means for the plows.'This tractor shown is of the type constituting the subject-matter ofthe Heider Patents, Nos. 1,055,635 and 1,154,767, dated March 11, 1913,and September 28, 1915, respectively, and is provided with foursupporting Wheels, although only the rear wheels are Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section subshown and a supporting frame. The powerplant is located at the forward end of the machine and the power istransmitted by suitable mechanism to the rear wheels where it is appliedfor propelling the vehicle. At its rear end, the tractor has acomparatively low horizontal frame consisting in general of the twopairs of longitudinal frame-bars 1, connected at'their rear ends by atop plate 2, and by a transverse angle-bar 8, somewhat forward of therear ends and on the underside of the frame. A cover is placed on thisframe to provide a platform for the operator, although this platform isremoved for the sake of clearness. The two large rear supporting wheels4 are mounted on the axle 5, which is positioned above the frame and isjournaled in bearings 6 on the top of said frame.

The plow, as illustrated in the drawings, has two bottoms 7, each havinga beam 8 extending forwardly beneath the tractor. The beams areconnected by a rear diagonal brace 9 and at their forward ends by meansof a transverse angle bar. 10. The diagonal braces 11 are provided toincrease the rigidity and strength of the forward end of the structure;This construction provides a rigid unit capable of being bodily liftedand lowered, as desired. When the plow is in working position in theground, the rear end thereof is supported by a caster-wheel 12 of theusual type. The forward end of the plow structure is positioned beneaththe tractor frame so as to bring the plow and tractor into as close andcompact relation as possible. The plow unit is pivotally connected to anunderhung draft frame on thetractor. This draft frame has two side bars14 connected by the cross braces 15 which render the frame rigid againstlateral distortion. The forward corners of this frame are pivotallyconnected to brackets 16 fastened to the transverse frame-bar 3, so thatthe frame may be swung vertically on these pivots or hinges to regulatethe working depth of the plow, as hereinafter described. The side barsof the frame have loop-members 17 which are provided with side slots 18at their ends to embrace the brackets, and pivot bolts 19 are passedthrough these loops and the brackets, which construction providescomparatively loose pivotal con- Patented Apia-19, 1921.

noctions or hinges with the tractor frame so that the draft frame may bewarped considerably to regulate the level working relation of the plows,as hereinafter described. At its rear end the draft frame has twosuperposed bars 20 spaced apart by the spacer members 21 which areclamped therebctwceu by the bolts 22. These spaced bars are hinged tothe draft frame which has loop-members 23 at the rearends of its side'is positioned between the two bars 20. A.

pivot bolt 28' is inserted through holes in the bars 20 and flange 27which provides a draft connection between the draft frame and the plow.which connection is pivotal in a lateral direction, whereby sufficientflexibility between the tractor and the plow is provided to permit theturning of the" tractor without distorting or straining the mechanism.Because of the width of the flange 27, positioned between the bars 20,the plow is rigidly and substantially connccted with the draft frame sofar as the warping action of the draft frame is con cerned for thepurpose of leveling the plows. The bars 20 have several holes, wherebythe pivotal point may be shifted laterally to shift the line of draft asdesired.

The mechanism for leveling the plows and regulating the working depththereof is positioned on the upper side of the tractor platform and ismanipulated by means of two hand-levers 30 and 31 upstanding in positionfor the operator. These levers are mounted on a transverse shaft 32which is journaled in bearings 33 on the tractor frame. The lever30 isfastened on one end of the shaft, and the shaft at its other end has aforwardly extending arm 34 which has a depending link 35 pivotallyconnected at its lower end on the pivot bolt 25 at the rear corner ofthe draft frame. Thus when the lever 30 is rotated, it operates to raiseor depress this corner of the draft frame, and when the other corner ofthe frame is held against movement the effect is to warp the draft frameand turn the plow frame on a horizontal axis whereby to level the plowas conditions require. The other lever 31 is mounted upon a toothedlocking quadrant 36 for the lever 30, this quadrant being rotatable onthe shaft 32. This quadrant also has a forwardly extending arm 37connected by a link 38 to the pivotal bolt 25 of the other corner of thedraft frame,

whereby the manipulation of the lever 31'will raise or depress thiscorresponding corner of the draft frame. However, since the lever 30 islocked in its adjusted position, by means of the gripoperator latch 30on the lever 30, to the quadrant 36 on which the lever 31 is mounted,the result of operation of the lever 31 is to raise or depress bothcorners of the draft frame in unison, thus elevating or depressing theforward end of the plow beam to regulate the Working depth of the plows.This depth regulation does not interfere with the adjustment for plowlevel, and on the other hand the level adjustment is independent of thedepth adjustment. The

lever 31 can be lockedin its adjusted position by means of agrip-actuated latch -31 on said lever which engages a fixed notchedquadrant 10 formed as a part of the bearing casting 33. It will thus beseen that the working depths of the plows can be readily regulated bymovement of the hand lever 31, which simultaneously raises both sides ofthe draft-frame while the plows can be leveled by operating the lever 30which raises but one side of the draft frame, thereby warping the sameso as to cause a leveling adjustment of the plows.

In order to raise the plows bodily out of the ground, any suitableplow-lifting mechanism may be employed as far as the invention coveredby this application is concerned, but I have chosen to illustrate mydepth-regulating and leveling device in combination with a plow-liftingmechanism such as shown in my parent application Serial Number 183,114,although it will, of course, be understood that other forms ofplow-lifting mechanism could be readily employed without in any wayaffecting the operation of the depth-regulating and leveling mechanism.

The plow-lifting mechanism is mounted on the upper side of the tractorframe and derives its power from the rear tractor axle, although theoperation of this mechanism is controlled by the operator. The plow issuspended from a lift-arm 41 by means of achain 12 by which it israised, although when the plow is in working position in the ground thechain is slack so as not to take any of the weight of the plow. Thischain is adjustably connected to a suitable bracket 13 on one of theplow beams, also connected to the end of the lift-arm. The lift-arm istriangular in shape to make it substantial and to provide a hook 44 bywhich it is locked in'raised position. This arm is arranged to swingvertically and is pivoted at 45 between the flanges of two angle-members46. These angle-members serve as a frame for the lifting mechanism andis fastened to the transverse plate 2 a of the tractor frame by means ofbolts/17.

When the lifting arm is swung to its upper position to raise the plowout of the ground,

as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,. the hook 44 is adapted to engagethe latch 48 to lock thearm. The latch is pivoted at 49 between [theangle members 46 and is acted on by a into working position;

The tractor axle 5 has a ratchet wheel 52 fastened thereon and rotatedthereby, and a yoke 53 embraces this ratchet and is rotatable on theaxle. This yoke, however, may be connected with and disconnected fromthe ratchet by means of a pawl 54 pivoted in the yoke. The pawl isadapted to be thrown into engagement with the ratchet by means of asliding latch bar 55,

- the forward end of which is positioned to actuate the pawl, and therear end of which is pivotally connected at 56 to the latch member 48,whereby when the operator actuates the foot-lever itwill connect thepawl with the ratchet. The yoke will be rotated by the ratchet wheel fora portion of arevolution, and will then be disconnected therefrom by acam 57 which is engaged by the roller arm 58 on the pawl. ower istransmitted from this clutch mechanism to the lift-arm through themedium of links 59 and 59. The link 59 is formed by a strap doubled backupon itself, and the links 59 are positioned alongside the link 59, andat their rear ends are spread to embrace the yoke to which they arepivotally connected by means of the pivot bolt 60 for the pawl. Thelinks 59 are fastened by means of bolts 59 to the sides of the link 59,but these bolts pass through elongated slots 59 in the links 59, so thatthe length of this transmitting device may be adjusted to time thelocking up of the lifting arm without the disconnection of the pawlvfrom the ratchet. The links 59 and 59 are also connected together by thebolts 59 which passes through the bend in the link 59 and thecross-piece 59 fastened to links 59 This bolt has a head on one end anda. threaded nut which is adjustable on the other end. This provides apositioned tension connection between said links 59 and 59 to takethestrain off the bolts and slot connections. The bolt and slotconnections, however, keep the links properly alined. The rearactremains substantially the same.- Thus, it is observed that the operatormerely needs to depress the foot-lever to engage the pawl with theratchet to lift the plow and at the proper time the pawl is disconnectedautomatically by the arm. Furthermore, the same foot-lever is used torelease the plow and allow it to lower into the ground.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination of a wheel-supported vehicle, a draft frame pivotallysupported thereby to swing vertically, a plow arranged to trail in therear of the tractor and pivoted to said draft frame to swing vertically,

means rigidly associating the plow with said draft frame for rotativemovement upon asubstantially longitudinal axis, lever controlled meansfor warping said draft frame to rotate the plow into proper workinglevel, and lever controlled means for swinging the draft frame upon itspivot to regulate the working depth of the plow.

2. The combination of a powerpropelled tractor, an underhung draft framepivotally mounted on the tractor, to swing yertically and flexible topermit the warpmg thereof, a plow structure positioned to trail in therear of the tractor and having its frame extended forwardly beneath thetractor frame and pivotally connected to said draft frame to swingvertically and laterally, and lever mechanism carried by the tractor andconnected with the draft frame for swinging the draft frame about itspivot to regulate the working depth of the plow.

3. The combination of a power-propelled tractor, an underhung draftframe pivotally mounted on the tractor to swing vertically and flexibleto permit the warping thereof, a plow structure positioned to trail inthe rear of the tractor and having its frame extended forwardly beneaththe tractor frame and pivotally connected to said draft frame to swingvertically and laterally, lever mechanism carried by the tractor andconnected with the draft frame for swinging the draft frame about itspivot to regulate the working depth of the plow, and lever mechanismalso carried by the tractor for warping said draft frame to rotate theplow into proper working level.

4; The combination of a power-propelled tractor, an articulated draftframe positioned beneath the tractor and pivotally mounted at itsforward end to swing vertically, lever mechanism carried by the tractorfor elevating and depressing one of the' rear corners of the draft frameto warp said draft frame, means for elevating and depressing bothforward corners of said draft frame to swingthe frame vertically about1ts pivot, and a plow trailing in the rear of the tractor and pivotallyconnected therewith for vertical and lateral movement but rigid in thedirection in which said draft frame is warped.

5. The combination of a tractor having'a frame and wheel-supports, asubstantiall rectangular draft frame positioned beneat the tractor frameand hinged at its forward corners to the tractor frame, a transverseshaft on the tractor frame, an arm on said shaft connected to one of therear corners of said draft frame for elevating and depressing saidcorner of the draft frame, a lever for rotating said shaft, a secondlever, an arm actuated thereby and connected to the other rear corner ofsaid draft frame to elevate and depress said corner, means for lockingthe levers whereby the manipulation of said second lever will elevateand depress both corners of the draft frame in unison, and a plowtrailing in the. rear of the tractor and having the forward end of .itsframe connected to the draft frame and to elevate and depress saidcorner, and

means for locking the levers whereby 'the manipulation of said secondlever will eleframe in unison.

7. The combination of a power-propelled tractor, an underhung draftframe pivotally mounted on the tractor to swing vertically, a plowstructure positioned to trail in the rear of the tractor and having itsframe extended forwardly beneath the, tractor frame and pivotallyconnected to said draft frame to swing vertically and laterally, levermechanism carried by the tractor and connected with the draft frame forswinging thedraft frame about its pivot to regulate the working depth ofthe plow, and lever mechanism also carried by the tractor for raisingand lowering one side'of said draft frame with respect to the other sidethereof to thereby rotate the plow into proper working level.

8. The combination of a power-propelled tractor, an underhung draftframe pivotally mounted on the tractor to swing vertically and flexibleto permit the warping thereof, a plow structure positioned to trail inthe rear of the tractor and having its frame extended forwardly beneaththe tractor frame and pivotally connected to said draft frame to swingvertically and laterally, lever mechanism carried by the tractor andconnected with the draft frame for swinging the draft frame about itspivot to regulate the work ing depth of the plow, and independentlyoperable lever mechanism also carried by the tractor for warping saiddraft frame to rotate the plow into proper working level.

Signed by me at Rock Island, Illinois, this 29th day of May, 1918.

' HENRY J. HEIDER vat'e and depress both corners of the draft

